Whiffletree.



PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907-. R. R. BURTON. WHIFFLETREE. APPLIOATION FILEDAPR.16.1906.

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Wit zoom UNITED STATES ROBERT REDMON BURTON, OF PEASTER, TEXAS.

WHIFFLETREE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5, 1907.

Application filed April 16,1906. Serial No. 312,030.

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT R. BURTON, a i citizen of the United States,residing at Peaster, in the county of Parker and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Whiffletrees, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to improve upon the common constructionof whittletree to secure a comparatively cheap yet very substantialstructure of articles of this class.

In carrying out the invention it is contemplated to constructdoubletrees or swingletrees of peculiar form and provided with peculiarconnecting parts to secure the same together and for attachment oftraces thereto.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof andalso to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the meansfor effecting the result reference is to be had to the followingdescription, and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top planview showing a doubletree and connected swingletrees embodying theinvention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the swingletrees.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

Specifically describing the invention, the doubletree 1 and swingletrees2 being of the same construction exactly, only one will be described indetail. The whilfletrees each comprise the wooden body 3, to the rearside of which is attached a longitudinal plate 4. The longitudinal plate4 extends the entire length of the whiffletree, and at its terminals isbent forwardly to overlap the ends thereof, as shown at 5, being thencecurved outwardly and rearwardly to form a hook 6. Fastenings 7 areprovided to attach the body and end portions of the plate 4 to thewhittletree in a substantial manner. Certain of the fastenings 7adjacent to the ends of the whiffletree not only cooperate to secure theplate 4 to the body 3 thereof, but are used to secure spring-mousings 8,which project from the ends of the body 3 of the whiflietree across themouths of the hooks 6, said mousings 8 consisting, preferably, ofspringmetal plates. The front extremities of the bent end portions 5 ofthe plate 4 are formed with integral extensions 9, overlapping the frontportion of the body of the whiflletree, and increase the firmness of theconnection between the plate 4 and the same.

As shown in the drawings, the swingletrees 2 are each provided with aclevis 10, to attach the same to the doubletree 1, the latter beingprovided with a similar clevis 11 to secure the same to the vehicle inthe customary way. The clevises 10 and 11 are preferably made of metaland formed so as to constitute a body-loop receiving the whilfletree ata point intermediate of its ends and .a connecting-loop 12, by which theWhittletree may be secured to the part with which it is to be connected.The connecting-loops 12 are formed by twisting the metal from which theloops 10 and 11 are made, as shown most clearly in the drawings. Thebody-loops 10 and 11 of course assist in securing the plates 4 to thewhifl'letrees in an obvious way, and thus increase the substantiality ofthe fastening means.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- Inwhiflletree construction, the combination of a body, a plate extendinglongitudinally of and the entire length of the body at the rear sidethereof, opposite end portions of said plate being bent forwardly andthence rearwardly, at opposite extremities of the body of thewhiffletree to form hooks, the forwardly-bent end portions of the platebeing provided with integral lateral extensions projecting in front ofthe whilfletree-body and seated thereagainst to rigidly reinforce theends of the plate relatively thereto.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT REDMON BURTON.

WVitnesses:

IRA M. KING, J. E. Wnrrsn'r'r.

